Basing machine



g 12, 1941- A. J. MARSHAUS 2,252,517

BASING MACHINE Filed Oct. 20, 1959 Fig.2. i I:

Inventor: Anthony James Marishaus,

His Attorney.

Patented Aug. 12,1941

Anthony James signortoGeneraiElec tion of New York I Cleveland, Ohio, as-

tric Company, a corpora- Application mm #0, 1939, Serial No. 308,888

-Claims.

My invention relates to basing apparatus for electric discharge devices, incandescent lamps and like devices.

With the advent of long tubular light sources, such as fluorescent electric discharge lamps recently made commercially available, it has become highly desirable to produce such lamps a great variety of lengths. The manufacture of the lamps in the diil'erent lengths desired has, however, entailed considerable difllculty, particularly as regards the basing operations which require that the lamp be engaged at both ends. Ordinarily, a separate basing machine would be required for each length of lamp, so that a relatively large number of suchmachines would be required to take care ofthe maximum production of each type of lamp, although in the ordinary course of events a number of said types would not be in production at any one time. One object of my invention is therefore to provide basing apparatus wherein a single machine will accommodate different types of lamps of greatly difierent lengths and thereby obviatethe need of a large number of such machines. The various lamps usually differ in length in steps of six inches. However, the apparatus comprising my invention may be easily and quickly adjusted to accommodate any desired number of types of lamps varying in lengths of this and even greater magnitude. Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the following detailed description of a species thereof, and from the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a plan view of a group of two basing heads and a section through a third, taken on the line 22 of Fig. 2, comprising a representative section of basing apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of ope of said heads; and Fig, 3 is a side elevation of a head, partially broken away and in section and on a larger scale.

In the embodiment shown, fluorescent type d charge larnps l0 and pin type bases II are held by the basing heads which are mounted at regular intervals at the periphery of a carrier or turret l2. The function of the heads is to hold these parts in proper relation while the cement i8 within the base II is heated so that it hardens and secures the base to the lamp envelope.

In the regular order of movement of the turret l2, each head is carried to one station where the lamp l0 and base II are inserted therein by an operator who first threads the lea -in wires of the lamp l0 through the pins 5 of the base II and then places said base II on the end of the lamp. The base ll comprises, in this instance, a metal shell l6 fastened to a disc ll of insulating material which supports the metal pins l5, and is provided with a ring of cement II which engages both the metal shell l6 and the reduced end portion ll of the lamp envelope. A well ii at the center of the disc ll provides clearance for the end 28 of the exhaust tube which extends beyond the end of the lamp enve- After the base II is placed on the lamp II, the said lamp is moved so that the leading-in wires l4 and the base pins ii are threaded up through .the openings 2i'2l' (Fig. 1) at opposite sides of a central opening 22' in the holder 2| and'the base shell I8 is inserted in the pocket 22 therein. The adjustable holder or cup 28 is then pulled down by manual pressure on the arm 24 until the lower end of the lamp ill can be moved into position above it whereupon the manual pressure is relieved and said cup 28 moves upward into position to support said lamp II and force the base ll tightly against the holder 2!. The cup 28 is mounted on the upper end of the rod 25 which is held by the arms 28-28 extending from the adjustable bracket 28' and is constantly under the influence of the spring 21 which is compressed between the lower of said arms 26 and the block 28 on the rod 25; The arm 24 is attached to the block 28 and enables the block 28 and rod 25 to be adjusted conveniently. Leading-in wires 29 projecting from the lower end of the lamp III are bent sideward and upward so as not to interfere with the positioning of the cup 23 below said lamp Ill.

Obviously the spring 21 cannot itself compensate for very great differences in the lengths of different lamps, and other means are. therefore provided to permit this apparatus to accommodate lamps of diiferent lengths. Two -such means are provided in this instance, the first of which provides forthe adjustment of the rod 25 and cup 28 with respect to the block 28 and allows the head to be changed to tal 'ze lamps varying in length, in this particular case, not more than six inches. The block 28 is fastened to the rod 25 by a pin 30 which enters a hole in said rod 25 and screws in said block 28, the said block being thereby repositioned on the said rod 25 by inserting said pin in one of the other holes 8| therein located at spaced intervals therealong. The second adjusting means allows the bracket 26' to be changed to different positions on the channel strip 82 on which it is mounted, and consists of easily separable means for fastening said bracket 26' to the channel strip 82 at varying intervals. The back of the bracket 26 fits loosely in the channel of the strip 82 and is attached thereto by the two large headed pins 88 at the mid point of said back which fit into keyhole slots 84 in said strip 82. The slots 84 are larger at the top to permit insertion therethrough of the heads of the pins 88. Such openings 84 are provided at intervals of six inches in this particular instance and allow the bracket 28' to be ad- 4 justed vertically several feet. The channel strip 32 is attached to the bracket 33 which supports the holder 2| and is mounted on the turret l2.

The basing operations occur as the head is carried from station to station by indexing movements of the turret l2, and are brought about by burners (not shown) which direct flames onto the outer part of the holder 2|. The heat causes the cement l3 to be baked hard in accordance with the usual basing operations. Too much heat applied to the insulating disc I'I would cause it to blister so that the pocket 22 in the holder 2| is relieved over said disc I! and the base II is positioned by engagement an overlapping rim of the shell l6 which rests on a shoulder in said pocket 22. I A base must also be attached to the opposite end of the lamp l0 and, after completing one revolution of the turret I2, said lamp I0 is removed from the head, provided with a second base and reinserted therein, all as described above. In this case, the leads 29 are inserted in the base pins and the lamp in is inverted so that the second base is placed in the holder. 2|. The excess portion of the leads l4 extending beyond the pins l5 oi the base H which is already attached to the lamp III are cut oil. before said pins ii are inserted in the openings 36 in the cup 23 and the base II is fitted in the depression 31 therein. As before, the pins oi! the second base enter openings in the holder 2| and are definitely positioned. The cup 23 also definitely positions the pins I! of the first base H, thesaid cup 23 and the rod 25 being kept from rotating by the engagement of the block 23 with the longitudinal ridge 38 on the bracket 26. The block 23 is provided with a groove .which straddles the ridge 38 so that the pins of the bases at opposite ends 01 the lamp "I bear a definite relation to each other. In this case the pairs of pins I! of both bases are located in'the same longitudinal plane passing through the lamp axis. The second base is heated during the rotation of the turret l2 in the same manner as the first, and the based lamp I0 is removed on returning to the loading station.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: v

1. In apparatus for securing'bases to both ends of elongated electric lamps, a head comprising a fixed holder for a base to be applied to one end of a lamp, an adjustable holder shaped to engage either the opposite end of the lamp or another base thereon for supporting said lamp from its opposite end and positioning it in proper relation to said first mentioned base, a bracket member supporting said adjustable holder and having means thereon for resiliently urging said adjustable holder a limited amount toward said fixed holder, support means for said fixed holder and said bracket member, and means for attaching said bracket member at different positions spaced a considerable distance apart on said support means to permit said head to accommodate various lengths oi! lamps.

2. In apparatus for securing bases to both ends of elongated electric lamps, a head comprising a fixed holder for a base to be applied to one end of a lamp, an adjustable holder shaped to enga e either the opposite end of the lamp or another base thereon for supporting said lamp a,asa,s17

from its opposite end and positioning it in proper relation to said first mentioned base, a bracket member. carrying means for supporting said adjustable holder so that it is adjustable for small amounts toward or away from said fixed holder and also carrying means for resiliently urging said adjustable holder a limited amount toward said fixed holder, support means for said fixed holder and said bracket member. and means for attaching said bracket member at different positions spaced a considerable distance apart on the said last-namedsupport means to permit said head to accommodate various lengths of lamps.

3. In apparatus for securing bases to both ends oi. elongated electric lamps, a head comprising a fixed holder for a base to be applied to one end or a lamp, an adjustable holder shaped to engage either the opposite end of the lamp or another base thereon for supporting said lamp from its opposite end and positioning it in proper relation to said first mentioned base, a bracket member carrying said adjustable holder and having means thereon for urging said adjustable holder a limited amount toward said fixed holder, support means for said fixed holder and said bracket member comprising a channel portion for receiving said bracket member and aligning said adjustable holder with said fixed holder, and readily separable engagement means for attaching said bracket member at diflerent positions spaced a considerable distance apart in said channel portion to permit separation of said fixed and adjustable holders to accommodate various lengths of lamps.

4. In apparatus for securing bases to both ends of elongated electric lamps, a head comprising a fixed holder for a base to be applied to one end of a lamp, an adjustable holder shaped to engage either the opposite end of the lamp or another base thereon for supporting said lamp from its opposite end and positioning it in proper relation to said first mentioned base, a bracket member carrying said adjustable holder and having means thereon for urging said adjustable holder a limited amount toward said fixed holder, support means for said fixed holder .and said bracket member comprising a channel portion for receiving said bracket member and aligning said adjustable holder with said fixed holder, said channel portion having keyhole shaped slots at spaced intervals therealong, and said bracket member having large headed pins thereon adapted to engage with said slots to permit separation of said fixed and adiustable holders to accommodate various lengths of lamps.

5 In apparatus for securing to each end of an elongated electric lamp a base having a pair of pins thereon, a head comprising a fixed holder shaped to receive a base and to engage the pins thereon to locate the base in a predetermined angular position, said holder also being constructed to permit heating oi the base engaged thereby sufiiciently to set a quantity of cement in said base, and an adjustable holder shaped to engage either the opposite end of the lamp envelope or another base secured thereon and provided with a pair of pins, said adjustable holder comprising means for engaging the pins on said 

